Hardwood honors: Decatur assistant coaches earn TABC awards

Decatur Lady Eagle assistant coaches Cynthia Maxwell and Rachel Maxwell recently earned coaching honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER

Decatur assistant coaches Rachel Maxwell and Cynthia Maxwell helped lead two of the Lady Eagles’ subvarsity teams to strong finishes this season. Now, the coaching duo has been recognized for their efforts by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. 

Rachel, who serves as the Lady Eagles’ junior varsity coach and varsity assistant coach, was selected as TABC’s 4A Girls Assistant Coach of the Year. 

“Not to boast, but this award shows all of the hard work and what I love about my job,” Rachel said. “I love my girls, the game and the coaches I get to coach with. This really helps to top off the year that the entire program has had, as well as everything I’m working toward and my goals.” 

In her sixth season with Decatur, Rachel’s junior varsity Lady Eagle squad went 24-6, and claimed the District 8-4A title with a 9-1 league record. The team’s lone loss in district play was a 30-24 defeat to rival Krum.

“We had a great season,” she said. “We were very short this year, so it was a challenge in a lot of our games because we faced a lot of teams that were taller than us… We had a couple of bumps in the road where we didn’t have starters and had to play with short numbers — six or seven people. We finished second in the Nocona tournament to Bridgeport, and also won our inaugural tournament. In district, we were able to rack up wins until our final district game against Krum. It was a close game, but we got into some foul trouble at the end. All around, it was a great experience this year.” 

On the sidelines coaching with varsity coach Drew Coffman, Rachel helped lead the Lady Eagles (31-6, 10-0) to a 10-0 record in 8-4A, earning the team’s first outright league title in nine seasons (2015). In the postseason, the Lady Eagles collected postseason wins over Wichita Falls (88-4), Lubbock Estacado (25-20) and Stephenville (48-38). Decatur made its first appearance at the 4A Region I tournament since 2022, but ultimately fell to Canyon in the regional semifinals, 48-26.  

“Drew and I really work well together,” Rachel said. “We’ve been at it together since August, and we’ve worked hard with the girls every day in practice. We feed off each other during games, and we both have our roles — I know he’s going to do one thing, and he knows I’ll pick up the slack on something else. It’s definitely an enjoyable experience, both on and off the court. We added [Cynthia] with us after we had a scorebook issue against Krum, and she got to go along for the ride with us. Our trainer Brandon Pounds has been a great addition to the staff, as well.”

Rachel also celebrated a personal milestone following the Lady Eagles’ run to the regional tournament. She gave birth to her third child and first son, Rory, on March 11.

“It was definitely trying during the regional tournament because I was 38 weeks pregnant and could have gone [into labor] at any time — there were a lot of stairs,” she said. “We actually ended up driving home that night because I thought I was in labor during the game. But he decided to wait two weeks and go past his due date… I think it shows how much we love what we do — I’m going to be coaching softball or basketball, no matter what, even if I’m about to have a baby. He’s as much a part of the team family as my girls are. Adding him to it, I know he’ll be part of a big family and get to be around the sports that I love.”

Now in her fifth year coaching at Decatur, Cynthia brought home the Lady Eagles’ second TABC coaching honor, earning the Girls Middle School Coach of the Year honor. 

“I was blown away by even being nominated by Drew,” Cynthia said. “I’ve always considered myself more of a volleyball coach, but between Drew, Rachel and Lisa Dyer, they’ve really taken me under their wings and answered all of my questions. It’s been really great being a part of this program, and being able to learn and grow as a coach over these past few years.” 

Cynthia’s Lady Eagle eighth grade A team (20-0) claimed its third consecutive district championship this season.

“Our girls were a very talented group, but also one of the most hard-working teams I’ve ever seen,” she said. “A lot of them are multi-sport athletes — they’re doing basketball either before or after school and during the period, and then they’re coming to volleyball practice until 9-9:30 p.m. Everything they do, they’re doing it at 100 percent. Our record this year is really a credit to their work ethic.” 

Coaching the future of the Lady Eagle program at McCarroll Middle School, Cynthia believes the current crop of middle school athletes will one day make an impact on the teams at the high school level.

“I’m excited to watch the girls I’m currently coaching continue to get better and become big parts of the programs,” she said. “They’re going to be great additions and help to continue our winning tradition.”

Coffman said he is proud of his coaches’ efforts in leading the program’s teams this season.

“I nominated both of them for these awards because I thought they were very deserving of them,” Coffman said. “They’re both high character and high integrity people, and they both have a passion about what they do and a love for kids. Overall, they do a great job. I’m very lucky to say I get to work with them on a daily basis, and obviously, our program is rewarded because of the good people we have in it.”